radio code

[huskyfan_7]

i tried searching but came up with nothing, so here's my question. If I was to buy a new radio (standard oem cassette kind) would my current radio code work or would i need to get a different code?

[apodaca]

You would need the code specific for the new radio. In other words your code will not work on the new radio. Depending on wher you got the radio, it shouldnt be too difficult to get the code from the stealership.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

make sure if you are buying a radio that doesn't have the code with it that it does have the vin from the car it originally came out of, that is what the dealership will want to search the code.



also it will probably be cheaper/easier/better to just switch to aftermarket. after months of looking for a used factory deck we decided to just do it right and go aftermarket, very happy we did.

[huskyfan_7]

I would do that, but I have the phatbox so I'm not sure what kind of compatibility issues i would run into.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

sell the phatbox.... for what you will get for it you can easily buy an Ipod that will give you multiple uses if you don't already have one. If you do have an IPOD, sell the phatbox and use the cash to buy a deck.

With the cost of a factory replacement deck, and the money from the phatbox you could get a WAY better setup than OE, not to mention the phatbox is very limited but has held it's value enough to be worth reselling.

[huskyfan_7]

That's a good idea. I do have an ipod, but it's just a nano, so i would need to get a bigger one to hold all the music i have.

Are there any suggestions for after market head units? I'm pretty much in the dark when it comes to that kind of thing.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

I personally love Pioneer.... I need to clean and take some pics of the wifes car so I will get some up of our install. Cable for the IPOD is run into the glove box, charges and allows full deck control of the IPOD.

She only has the 2 gig Nano and it works.... I have a 4 gig Mini. I have tons of music but usually just setup a few playlists of what I feel like listening to and roll.

It's great too, because the menu on the deck operates just like the Ipod, so you can go through all your playlists or specific artist or album (one of the reasons I would also say it's probably better to stick with a smaller IPOD). It becomes troublesome searching thru a huge amount of songs.

[apodaca]

Another suggestion you may also like is the car stereos that have USB ports. I have one with my JVC and it's the best thing since sliced bread. Not only can you play the ipods and othe various mp3 players, you can also play jump drives. (Since everyones got jump drives now a days) Like the guy above stated with the ipod hookup, you can control the songs play list thru the radio, unlike the stereos that just have aux plug ins. No more fumbling with the mp3 player while driving. You can get a stereo that has USB and SAT radio now a days from Best Buy or C City for around 170 to 200. Average starting price.

[huskyfan_7]

thanks for the help and suggestions. i think i've settled on a couple different models to choose from.

Alpine CDE-9881:


Pioneer DEH-P9600UB:



The Alpine is a little more in my price range, so that may be what i go with. How easy are these to install, or is that something that someone else should do?

[OldSkoolVWLover]

9600-ub

I think that's the one we have in the car (might be the 9600IB.... first one of the new ipod adapter), or similar.... regardless you will want the organic display when searching thru the ipod. I have owned and installed many Pioneer decks, not one unhappy person yet.

[huskyfan_7]

I found this one too. It's a little more within my price range.


DEH-P5900IB

Head unit with ipod cable all installed at Circuit City, $199

[huskyfan_7]

also, how much should i be able to sell my phatbox for? it's in very good condition still. Would $150 be too high?

[OldSkoolVWLover]

the last few I could find on the vortex were all asking over $150. Around $170-180 obo, I would ask in that range and see where the offers come in. I would think $150 +shipping is more than fair.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

there is one on ebay right now, with just the box starting bid is $75 + $15 shipping. It's new, but that's just the player, nothing to put music on and no computer hookup.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

found another on vortex asking 200 shipped.... another 150+shipping.

$175 +shipping OBO would be a good starting price and see where is goes.

[huskyfan_7]

after further review, i think i'm going to stick with the DEH-P6900UB. I've decided not to go with an iPod, since those are pretty pricey. For $100 or less I can get a sizable external hard drive that's USB powered and that headunit will read all the files on it.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

you need to remember that hard drives are not meant to be mounted in cars. So you can and over time will see data corruption using a cheap external USB harddrive in that manor. Also any power spikes can cause damage since the deck is not receiving power in the same way a computer would.


There is a reason why an ipod costs more than a HD, just saying.